A/N:
Sidenote;
As was already done in the previous entry, I replaced the Spanish spoken phrases between Salazar and his brother with English lines with italics to make them easier to follow, since they'll be exchanging quite a lot of words in their mother tongue this point onward…
Chapter Twenty Two
Carmen stared at the ring and the demigod in turns, rubbing the sore spot on her neck until her focus returned back solely to the piece of jewelry in wonder. Her not comprehending the artifact's importance as it was clear to her the godly being to take Fernán's words by heart, although it was true the man to have committed torture and bloodshed to get his hands on this very thing, perforce making it worth more than a mere trinket would be…The surprise the demigod displayed on his face after conducting himself mostly impassive while so far confronted with these mortals but adding to this observation, and it was then when the gypsy girl followed the demigod to claim the ring from the Spaniard.
"This ring…It possesses the ancient power of the gods", he spoke, Carmen blinking at him, as astounded by this nugget of information as was Henry, who then also studied the ring in not quite as grave outrage but in great amazement none the same. Knowing it to have been significant in some undisclosed way when he and Carmen had accidentally discovered it at his house, but to learn it to harbor actual powers recognized by a demigod? It was all very overwhelming, even if not any less surprising…Because the minute he'd held that ring in his hand and laid eyes on the map concealed within its stone he should've known to be sticking his nose into something that went beyond ordinary treasure hunting.
"Fernán, what is this?" Salazar questioned then, arriving by his brother's side, but despite of his attempt to carry himself as proud as the Officer he still was deep within he couldn't. Finding himself too worn out to stand upright, faltering and having to grasp onto his brother for support, to which Fernán responded by looking at him soothingly. Confident, like before regardless of Salazar not possessing tangible body for him to touch placing a reassuring hand on his arm.
"Está bien, Armando. Soon you'll be yourself again."
"Where did you get this?" the demigod asked, sincerely curious but taken aback as well while gauged at Fernán, but finally turned over to the gypsy girl. The Spaniard smiling at the sight of Carmen recoiling while under the demigod's demanding stare.
"It was given to her by a nun who'd retained it in my stead…and now I've brought it to you", Fernán explained, ignoring the slight hateful glare Carmen shot at him at the sound of this flagrant lie. "For you to do as the legend dictates…by fulfilling your father's promise to mankind."
Fernán then brought a hand under his jacket, pulling out two more objects. It taking a second for Carmen to realize them to be the two other artifacts hinted at in the hidden map, as instantly she recognized that same gem like stone that decorated them all. Her eyeing at the artifacts, discovering one of them to be an ornate coin of some sort while the other reminded her of a small hourglass, no doubt both of them to have been concealed within another object to hide them from the eyes of those who didn't know what to look. As she now behold them her feeling her blood suddenly to run cold as she came to imagine what kind of atrocities similar to what she'd been a victim of had been committed in order to acquire them. Because of the horror of this thought Carmen now leveling but a fearful look at Fernán as once more she remembered the murderous rampage he and his crewmen had carried out before she had been rescued from becoming another victim to that vicious brutality. However as the man was then too distracted by the demigod in front of him to pay her any mind Carmen coming to find this as an opportunity, after casting her eyes down and happening to glance at his belt to see the knife he'd previously used to injure her.
The momentarily smothered anger from before flared up in her and her eyes rose to glare at the despicable man's profile once again as she was reminded of what he'd done to Pedro. Henry taking notice of her hand that then inched towards the weapon, and with a worried frown he did see her manage to steal the dagger from the man without Fernán noticing. However the source of his concern laying strictly in the way he saw Carmen's fingers to squeeze around the blade's hilt, decisively. Signaling the girl to be up to something dangerous and which he right then knew to be a bad idea as the Spaniard then spoke up, still oblivious to the sinister intent of the gypsy girl whom he didn't realize to have need to be beware of.
"The promised reward for saving you from your imprisonment was your father's fabled weapon. And in exchange of your assistance I gift you these…Artifacts containing the power of gods which once gave your weapon its very essence and bound it with yours…And which now can restore the soul that was consumed in the revoking of the heathen magic. The soul which source lies in Atlantis where these artifacts were once crafted, to preserve the ancient godhood of your ancestors who gave birth to this world...For it to mold the present. "
The demigod seemed to arrive into an agreement with Fernán by the look they then exchanged, one which seemed like a figurative handshake as the demigod then was about to claim the other two artifacts for himself. But it was then when Carmen lunged at Fernán, driven by her welled up rage over not only Pedro but over everything she'd had to go through after first meeting this man years before, as her goal to sink the blade into his neck but despite of her try of outright murdering him on that greatly ill-adviced whim she was stopped by the Trident which suddenly charged to block the knife. The utterance slipping Carmen's lips that had begun as an enraged exclamation now turning into a surprised outcry as the gypsy girl found her hand as well as the dagger thwarted and pinned down to the rocks. The son of Poseidon to have anticipated her movements and before she could've as much as thought of hurting Fernán had taken his weapon to catch the blade. Carmen blinking at the dagger currently trapped under the tips of the Trident's fork bemused until her eyes rose to the demigod, him peering down at her with that same unheeding expression until she was then faced with Fernán's anger lit gaze. The tip of the weapon then releasing the blade to rise to point at the gypsy girl, fidgety breath escaping Carmen's lips as she locked gazes with its owner. Henry running over then to pull her to her feet and away from the two as saw Fernán turn, but just as he stepped over the knife Henry had tried to pick up and swung his arm to land a strike at him, his free hand letting go of the artifacts while reaching for the second blade at his hip, the demigod's Trident rose again to receive it. Halting the Spaniard's forearm just above Henry's face and the lad gasped at the realization of it, hollow tinkle ringing out as the artifacts dropped onto the rocks when now Carmen dragged him further away, while Fernán was now in turn stared down by the disgruntled demigod.
"The deal was to open the passage to the sanctum. Not to spill blood", Poseidon's son reminded, after a brief exchange of stares the demigod's gaze shifting back to Carmen briefly until Fernán pulled away the fingers that had been about to grasp the weapon's hilt and he submitted with a bend of his head…Although in his mind he sneered at this being's human side clearly shining through when he'd prevented him from laying a hand on the irksome boy and the accursed gypsy who'd actually had the guts to try to kill him. Him then stepping away from the demigod who withdrew his own weapon, Carmen once more eyeing at her childhood friend as he was being controlled by the godly entity once it bend down himself to collect the fallen artifacts. Her hand then squeezing Henry's arm as they watched the demigod to give the objects a long, measuring look until next raised his trident to turn it around, speaking her thoughts out loud.
"What is going to happen to us?"
Henry said nothing, as he neither was at all sure of that. But although the situation had turned from dire to disastrous he refused to let his qualms about them making out of this unharmed show and only wrapped a calming arm around the gypsy girl. Trying to sound as confident as was able while answered, saying the words he was also telling himself….even he didn't quite believe himself either, so was there much hope of him appeasing Carmen when he himself was beginning to dread how this all would end for them? The most sadistic man he'd ever met being about to get his hands on one of the most powerful objects in the world, and it was certain he would not find it in his heart to use it to help them…For even he seemed to have gone to such frightening lenghts to simply save his brother, Henry knew there was only something dark within him that was masked as humanity…For he hold no fundamental human attribute such as compassion.
"It's alright. We're going to break the curse and make it home."
Carmen said nothing in response, as indeed neither she could bring herself to trust in his words. For that reason her simply letting out a shuddering sigh, trying to balance her concern and overall fear over their fate as she centered her focus onto the demigod. The strange imprints on his trident's hilt now getting a meaning as the onlookers watched him to take the artifacts and just as implied used them to awaken the power that had been used up by the the breaking of Calypso's enchantment. Pushing the artifacts within the hilt for the wonder of the spectators, the carved holes molds within the artifacts were now set into and instantly the stones in them became active. Just like the large one that had previously sat in the center of the fork also them now beginning to radiate energy, feeding the weapon and bringing it back to its former grandeur as the demigod next raised it. After a brief examination performed over the weapon a slight smile curving up the corner of his mouth as he then ran a hand over the Atlantean artifacts, until for the following awe of the youth the artifacts fused with the weapon and it grew in size, its very soul now fully reanimated. Momentarily enveloped by the greenish glow the trident transforming into a far more imposing vision and pleased by this the demigod gave it another twirl, Carmen and Henry having to flee from getting hit by the weapon's fork as the demigod next flipped it around before slamming the hilt into the soil. The water that had continued to pile over them abruptly splitting like before once the passage to the tomb had been opened, the youth watching the ocean to part in awe until visibly delighted by the change in the trident the demigod faced Fernán and Carina, who by then had also climbed down from the rocks. To come stand behind the Spaniard once the demigod spoke, thankful.
"You are owed your reward."
Upon saying this the demigod raised the Trident and turned it towards the waves, exuding that same radiant glow as the onlookers watched him to begin to control the water. With a few minor twirls of the weapon's tip commanding the monstrous surges to draw in and gather around into one massive wall of water, brushing by the spectators rapidly, with each powerful roil and a new wave crashing within the column it soon towering above the astounded mortals who retreated from the intimidating sight. Actually gallowed by a real half-god using his supernal powers to control the sea with such little ease that it made some of them to wonder was the true power of Poseidon's trident truly worth obtaining if the might of a mere demigod's weapon already proved this foreboding, as the sea continued to amass from all around them until the swirling came to and end and the water stilled. The youth, Jack, Barbossa and Fernán's men beholding the demigod to approach the wall of water which now looked mostly serene, the power which previously had ran within the Trident alone now infused with its owner who came to stand by the water until used the Trident's fork to draw a symbol on the surface before pressing the tips on top of it. After following intently at the demigod's actions Henry realizing the drawn symbol to have been the same that had been carved onto the casket inside the ring had been stored in. In understanding mixed with even greater awe the lad now seeing how the drawing of this symbol caused the wall of water to morph, ripples breaking out of the spot the trident made contact with, until the ever stirring outer waves roiled again briefly before the demigod withdrew the trident with a suave swing. The power streaming through him retreating back into the weapon, leaving behind but the glowing embedded gems of the shaft until without a word the demigod walked through the wall of water, entering the portal he'd just opened.
Carmen stared at the passageway in dismay. To have already thought nothing she would yet come to see to be able to faze her anymore, but as she behold the demigod to step through the wall of water and disappearing to the other side she discovered to be wrong…As one of those who'd come to find the power of the sole imitation of the trident formidable enough her now starting to question whether or not it was wise to enter that portal…For to follow the demigod inside his father's treasury to claim the sole thing they'd sailed this far to obtain would come to have disastrous consequences, and even more than her unclear fate at the hands of Fernán she begun to fear what would become of them if they dared to step through that portal and face the unknown that awaited at the other side. For this reason the gypsy girl leaving Henry's side, with careful steps walking closer to the passageway as her eyes measured the entrance in hesitation. Removing some drenched wisps that had clung to her face as she took a moment to dig deep into herself to find out whether or not she had enough courage left to go through what was then inevitably asked of them…Although her resolve had truly already come to its original end the moment she'd set sail away from England, however as she now raised a timid hand to brush her fingertips over the surface of the portal the decision was made for her when she soon felt the coldness of the steel that set upon her ribs. Fernán's voice bringing an end to her deliberation as the man came to stand behind her, the oppressive and ever so callous voice that had etched into her memory forever for future nightmares yet to come causing her to shiver unintentionally as it murmured to her ear.
"After you."
Despite of the blade pressed against her Carmen turned to look at Fernán in disbelief, unsurely, until her dithering eyes shifted to Henry who was standing alongside Carina but a couple of paces behind. The enforcing blades of the pirates around them to have also robbed them of a choice to enter voluntarily, but after Carmen's irises had rounded the faces of theirs as well as Jack's and Barbossa's indecisively they returned to Henry to see him give her a slight nod. His features however least heartening as he like the others had turned but earnest once the entrance to the sanctum had been opened for them…So despite of knowing herself to be but mad to have ever agreed to follow him here regardless of it being solely her feelings for the lad that had had her stay by him this far through thick and thin she then released an unsure breath. Facing the portal until slipped her hand through the veil of water, slight sensation of dread creeping upon her the more her arm then continued to push through the waterwall until with a pent-up breath the gypsy girl vaulted across. Even she'd perhaps expected something significant to happen the minute she entered her then noticing herself ailed by nothing but the previous thrill of unknown as she opened her briefly closed eyes. To find herself standing on a stoned path that seemed to lie at the bottom of an ocean, and for a second she suspected whether or not the portal had taken her anywhere but back to where she'd just left, but as in that same moment of wonder she let her eyes wander about her vicinity to take in the remains of rundown buildings all around her she understood to be wrong. Her eyes trailing the road until they finally fixated to the grand structure that rose high above the rest of the buildings.
Carmen let out but an amazed breath as she looked at the underwater edifice that was clearly a temple, with magnificent columns and detailed arches of gargantuan proportions making it an architectual masterpiece unlike she'd ever even dreamed of. Her marveling the grace of the ridge which was held up solely by those numerous columns at the absence of actual walls along with all of the structure's beauty, carved out of white stone as were the majority of the buildings of the town that surrounded it. The pearly material emitting a strange light even in the inpenetrable darkness of the depths they were currently in, the gypsy girl eyeing at the baffling sight of the undersea city in indescribable astonishment as did the others who'd by then crossed the portal to join her at the other side. Them all staring at the clearly ancient, crumbled and ageworn edifices in a sudden shared sense of elation which could be described close to euphoria even, but after recovering from her own wonder only then Carmen getting reminded of the confounding notion that despite of her being in the water she was able to actually breathe…And neither did the others notice their own clothes and hair to be floating along the gentle underwater current until they too had had their fill of admiring the somewhat caved in, seaweed covered houses…Only the magnificent temple standing strong, surrounded by numerous statues and other embellishments, with not a single sign of dertision to it.
Henry took hold of his throat in instant fright as his instinctive reaction was to draw in a breath, but as he discovered to be able to do so for his following confusion, he turned over to Carina to see whether she was experiencing the same as him. And once the young woman moved her hair out of the way to level a similar, taken aback look at him after pressing a fleeting hand to her bosom to feel the continuous rise and fall of her chest the lad was convinced that he indeed was not imagining it. As insane as it was for some inconceivable reason them being able to breathe while underwater, while troubled with the same notion Fernán and his men all gazing at each other to confirm whether or not they were actually alive. Barbossa looking surprisingly serene and his attention appeared to be solely drawn to the sanctum before them, where Jack looked most confounded of them all. Henry finding the man to look rather hilarious then his dreadlocks floating about everywhere around his head, until after a moment of eyeing about the city in grave awe that to someone with an untrained eye who didn't know him well enough would've taken as mere look of wonder the pirate grabbed his hat. Preventing it from getting caught in the current, but now shifting his own gaze away from him Henry once more faced the temple. Bypassing the numerous questions that had arisen him simply letting his eyes wander, to study the statues that littered the trail which led to the sanctum and which he assumed depicting gods or some other figures of myth unfamiliar to him. Him filling with that same delight of discovery although he didn't yet know quite where they were exactly, and he walked forward. Taking Carmen's side and joined her in ogling at the building, soon however getting surprised by Carina as he heard her then to actually speak…which perhaps shouldn't have been a wonder since they were also able to draw breath as if they were still above the surface.
"It's beautiful."
"Poseidon's temple", Fernán mused then, speechless by the sight in front of himself too, until his own marvel was replaced by but a content smirk. His almost predatory like smile soon being mirrored by his crewmen's equally delighted grins, and some laughter arose from amongst them as they studied the sunken city. Surprised Henry glancing at him until he gave the sanctum as well as the other buildings a more careful look-over, the style of them indeed supporting the Spaniard's statement. Carina also shooting the man a taken aback look until took in the ruins this time but puzzled.
"Where are we?" she asked, making a slow turn as took a look around herself. Seeing nothing but oceanfloor at the sides of the still active portal as well as behind the city, proving them to be still at the bottom of the ocean like before. As only difference them to have been transported from the supposed tomb of Poseidon to a temple apparently built in his honor…One which was located somewhere but indeed gods or those possessing equal power to them could only venture.
"And how can we draw breath?" Fernán's first-mate questioned, baffled. "We should be drowning."
"It's the Trident. It shields us from mortal death through the magic it has cast over this whole city", Fernán explained, his smile widening at the thrilling thought of the legendary weapon and its abilities merely implied by the apparent enchantment that surrounded the sanctum. The Spaniard then raising an eyebrow as he continued, his voice gaining a slightly reverent tone while Henry's eyes then transfixed to the symbol he noticed to have been carved onto the vault serving as the main entrance to the temple, the same which had gained them access to this place and which he was then sure to be quite obviously the symbol of the Trident itself.
"Galilei did well by discovering that which others before him had failed to decipher from amongst countless fictitious fishtales and gossip…but he never immersed himself into the legend aside for what had been passed down for generations as mere hearsay to truly discover the path to the Trident…Very much like you who believed to find it from the bottom of the wrong ocean, even we all know Poseidon to not hail from the Caribbean…"
"But from Greece", Henry added, in realization and soon came to scold himself for not thinking of this sooner. It indeed not making much sense for such a magnificent object to have been simply discarded at the bottom of the ocean somewhere so far away from the birthplace of the myths speaking of it. Carina also catching on and she faced Henry, giving him a widen-eyed look.
"So, are we…?"
"In the Mediterrean. At the first ever built temple dedicated to Poseidon...In the ruins of Atlantis", Fernán defined, gathering outraged glances from the youth, Carina shaking her head on the brink of letting out a disbelieving laugh.
"That's impossible."
"After everything you've already seen is it truly, señorita?"
"This can't be Atlantis. It's just a tale", Henry cut in, his eyes once more gauging at the city incredulously, although he already knew disbelief to be a wasted emotion to harbor at this point just like the Spaniard had said. Because of this Fernán casting an amused look at him upon replying, spiteful.
"You truly should've found out more into what kind of a mess you were so eager to throw yourself into while deciding to make the most of your escape, boy…But it matters not as this temple shall be your grave."
Flinching at that Carmen turned to look at Fernán fearfully, only then noticing her and Henry's hands to have met and entwined with one another, but now pulled apart as the gypsy girl then came to remember the demigod and her friend he was possessing.
"Where's Pedro?"
As stupid as it was, Henry couldn't help his heart twitching at the sound of concern in Carmen's voice as she then pulled her hand fully free of his and left his side, as her intention to head for the temple, but before she could make much headway Fernán stopped her. Drawing her back to direct a grim look at first her until cast a remarkable stare at Henry.
"In case either of you get any ideas of similar heroics you performed at that marketplace."
Henry sighed as like before he was endowed with a blade stuck under his chin, until two pairs of familiar and the least lenient hands grasped him, while his side was now poked by a barrel of a pistol. Fernán however hardly regarding the glare he received from the lad as the Spaniard then beckoned his crewmen to take him, Carina, Jack and Barbossa over to the temple, while he himself followed with Carmen and his brother. Carmen casting a nervous look after the captured lad as they all then approached the vault that was adorned with the Trident's symbol, small number of stairs taking them under it, but once they walked past the two columns supporting it and which counterparts they now noticed to have been arranged into even spaces all around the temple they discovered to step through another barrier. Once again walking on dry land, however despite of their journey now resuming in much more normal manner when they weren't continuously enveloped with seawater, the demigod's trident's power retracted in the freeing of the god and unable to obviate the effects of Salazar's curse any longer he found himself too weakened to continue. Collapsing with a weary bemoan.
"I can't go on, brother. I'm vanquished", Salazar sputtered, in definitive defeat that heavily inhered from his voice, to have accepted his final end was at hand and that there was no hope of wishing for the contradictory. However steeply against such notion Fernán bringing himself and the gypsy girl to a halt to crouch beside Salazar, to have heaved him to his feet determinedly should he have been able to take actual hold of the haggard man on the verge of surrender.
"It's not far. Just a little further", he replied, however despite of the spark of briefly resumed decisiveness Salazar simply slumped back to his knees during an attempt to rise. With a shake of his head the ghost of a man then giving in, staying there with no intention of clinging to that same speck of faith that was driving his younger brother forward.
"No, brother. I'm lost."
Henry turned around at the sound of their conversation. To see how after a moment of thought Fernán shifted his focus to Carmen and jerked her next to Salazar, but whatever he was doing was then prevented by the sight of the gypsy girl's bloody palm. In realization Fernán gripping to her wrist to give the cut a sardonic look until in the same instant had another idea, commanding one of his crewmen to join him and his brother, and for the dismay of the man Fernán then shoved the sailor towards Salazar. Beckoning to the crewman significantly, where the buccaneer gave his captain a questionable glance until Salazar then rose after a brief consideration himself. Still recalling his own first-mate's warning about the risks of possessing living men, but should they truly be on the verge of obtaining the true Trident he then reassured himself of his brother's words that had said him to yet have a chance in life if he just persisted. For that reason Salazar then taking hold of the sailor until entered his body, with much more ease after to have done so twice before, Carmen beholding him merging with the pirate in alarm. Salazar's use of her own body even if under the compulsion of the Sacred Eye still fresh in her memory and therefore making the thought of having an actual ghost inside you even more unpleasant as she watched the consciousness of the sailor to be replaced with Salazar's. Through the man's eyes her seeing the pirate to be cast aside as Salazar took over, the black veins slithering across the possessed man's skin as long as it took for the Spaniard to settle into this new host body, but in a short moment the remnants of his spirits settled with the other existing human soul. Harnessing it to once more hinder the effects of the Triangle's curse.
Fernán smiled once Salazar now straightened in the new borrowed body of his, turning his eyes to his brother until Fernán placed a guiding hand on his back with a nod. Henry and Carina, who were still walked towards the entrance to the temple eyeing at the pair anxiously over their shoulders after witnessing the possession, the lad also recollecting his time under Salazar's control and pitied the sailor who'd been offered up for the specter to use so readily by his captain, but was swiftly shoved forward. Fernán now pushing on together with his revitalized brother who was once again able to walk steadily when his essence wasn't any further consumed by him being on land…At the sight of this Carina casting a irresolute look at the Greek temple until forced her escort to slow down his pace, for her to be sided with Henry so that she could exchange a few words with him.
"What are we going to do? If the real Trident truly is here, we can't let it end up in the hands of that madman. Neither of them", Carina stated, under her breath for only Henry to hear her. The pirate walking her tugging her along impatiently, but the young woman only ignored his peeved demands to hurry and kept her attention at the young man whom she then saw frown grimly. Evidently bothered by the same concern.
"I know that, Carina."
"Then what can we do?"
"I don't know…I'm working on it."
"Well work faster."
Henry shot Carina an annoyed glance. "You are more than free to help. It is not you he is eager to do away with the minute he gets that Trident."
"Funny. Seemed rather opposite to me. And I'll be damned than have myself killed because you got onto the bad side of a murderous loonatic."
"Any ideas? Any foolhardy, serendipitous plans of escape to help us get away?" Henry asked then from Jack, ignoring Carina's pointed remark and deciding not to grace it with equally taut answer as after all he was at an utter loss of how to stop Fernán from getting the Trident and freeing Salazar from his curse…since the moment he did Henry and the other captives would be dead. Jack however, even he looked rather serious for a change and reminded more of the pirate the lad had heard so much about, only leveled an impassive look at Henry. Inclining his head contemplatively, which didn't at all reassure the lad.
"There be not much ye and me can do on our twosies, taken that yer matey friend over here has us by our short hairs and whatnot", he responded, his indifference astounding Henry and he only blinked at that. Jack's eyes however then studying the pirates holding them, estimating their chances of even planning on taking the lot on in means of snatching the Trident for themselves without getting impaled with several points of steel, until they finally shifted to gauge at their captain…The younger brother of his resurfaced sworn enemy, whom Jack did not fail to think not to be as much after his hide as was Salazar for bringing about his fate that had left the man cursed in what was left of life for him. Therefore even Henry didn't pick it up his delivery but cryptic as he went on, as if he truly was scheming something that would come to turn the tide in their favor. "And as long as ye be like yer father and that is being too occupied in tending for the safety of yer ladylove instead of focusing on catching the blackguard unawares, ye can't prevail in what ye came all this way to do…To get the magic fork to free yer father to further save yer mother."
After Jack finished he subtly nodded towards the sword still stationed close to the lad's neck, Henry realizing the pirate to have a point, and the mention of his mother caused the lad to make a concerned frown. Not knowing what had become of her after his flight from home or if she even was safe worrying him beyond anything, far more than his own fate, even he knew Elizabeth to be a far tougher woman to be intimidated yet alone harmed by the likes of Fernán. Therefore Henry then calming himself, assuring his mother to be alive and well, and that by mentioning her and bringing the Dead Man's Chest here the Spaniard had just tried to get under his skin…And upon realizing this the lad then reminded himself that in order to defeat Fernán he shouldn't waste time in worrying over things beyond his control, nor let the man mess with his head to waver his resolve…even if it was about Carmen. For he had come here for his father, and he had to save him by any means necessary. Whatever it took, since it now seemed also his mother depended on it. Jack was right about that.
"There it is. The Trident", Carina stated then. Pulling Henry out of his private musings and the lad now raised his gaze to peer forward at the end of the pathway, which came to an end to another flight of a few stairs. Beyond which the youth then could indeed see the interior of the sanctum, sealed within what appeared to the youth as block of stone placed at the back of it. Decorated and moored to the floor by numerous corrals and other sealife beneath the lower half was buried from the time water had still engulfed the space, but the sole reason why they were able to see the silhouette of the legendary weapon was that the Trident was apparently responding to the call of its lesser counterpart currently wielded by the freed son whom they saw standing in front of the altar the boulder had been placed on. Behind the podium, governing the sanctum being a large statue of Poseidon himself, the depicted god looking very much like the many pictures Henry had seen during his frantic search of knowledge about the Trident's legend, holding the very spear that the arrived men and women could see appear whenever it pulsated within the stone.
Nevertheless as the group then ascended the stairs and entered the temple they saw the interplay between the two weapons end, and the demigod's trident that just a moment ago had once more begun to radiate that greenish light then blackened again. After staring at the boulder by the altar Carmen only then looking around, realizing them to be indeed standing within a treasury of gods…Treasures and objects without a doubt taken from several legends and stories of men littering the floor from swords and daggers to ordinary looking jewels and figurines. None of which however were by any means common, nor any less precarious to pick up as she then came to reckon, despite of the buccaneers as well as the others also then taking in the countless valuables in adoration, bewitched by them, Fernán's voice soon broke through their dazes and shifted all attention back to the most priced object within the sanctum. Fernán practically gaping at the sight of the boulder within he'd as well seen the Trident lie, the demigod now turning towards him to point the end of his own at the mass of stone.
"As promised. My father's most trusted weapon...his almighty Trident."
"It's real. It is here", Fernán stated, bypassing the demigod in abrupt rush of elation as then removed his jacket and threw it over to one of his crewmen, approaching the boulder. Not believing to have finally found it, after all the sacrifices he'd had to do and all the blood he'd had to spill to be finally here on the verge of claiming one of the most powerful objects of the known world as his own, ultimate control and might at his very fingertips. Possibly spellbound smile then rising to play on his lips until he faced the demigod, beckoning towards the boulder with now a slightly impatient tilt of his head.
"Go on. Give it to me."
"Only a godly being can release the true power of the sea for others to wield it…but cannot take the hilt of the very weapon that was forged for the great Olympian Poseidon. The least me, half-blood, whose weapon was rendered powerless the moment I entered within my father's domain", the demigod answered, dismaying the Spaniard for a brief moment until the man only shot an irritated sideways glance at Poseidon's son. Drawing his sword, where the youth as well as Jack and Barbossa looked at the other, lesser trident in the demigod's hand in understanding. Now seeing why it had suddenly stopped glowing while at the presence of Poseidon's mythical spear.
"The deal was for you to give me the Trident for your freedom. And I have freed you, which leaves your end of the deal yet fulfilled, demigod."
"But it has been…By the very treasure that is right here for the taking."
Fernán studied the godly creature contemplatively, in the end dropping his blade as the demigod only continued to return his gaze unwaveringly, nothing about him signaling of possible betrayal as hadn't before. The Spaniard soon ignoring the demigod along with his enigmatic words and chose to take them as they sounded…that by entering this sanctum any one of them could claim the Trident from its stony prison, and that godly power of the demigod had been needed to only open the portal for them…For this reason the Spaniard soon only tilting a head at the demigod.
"Then I thank you."
Fernán's focus shifted back to the block of stone. The man beginning to run his hands over it to study it, to find any hidden crevice or secret mechanism that would come to free the Trident from within it, but even after circling around it and inspecting it inch by inch he found nothing. Now giving an opportunity for Jack to surprisingly speak, him deciding to end the silence after watching the Spaniard fruitlessly bustle about the block for quite awhile.
"Ye think this wise, mate? Meddling with forces far beyond yer understanding?" he questioned, seeing Fernán to halt until the man cast him a look which although seemed amused, was not. "Because I for one would think the wielder of that Trident to find themselves in far deeper waters to do much else than drown in…even with all the power of the seas to quench their fancy."
"Like you? Didn't you come this far in pursuit of the same precarious way of saving yourself from the wrath of my brother, Sparrow?" Fernán asked back, his eyes now narrowing as he measured the pirate after gaining a confirmation from his eyes, even Jack didn't let his uneasiness show and wore but a carefree expression. "No, hombre. Faring such waters indeed proved too baneful for you to survive this time…For I will have the revenge you denied of my brother."
"What goes about, comes about, is it?" Jack remarked, smiling. "For I recall it was that very craving of retribution that moored yer brother's damned soul to this world to be so nobly salvaged by ye."
"Cállate, Sparrow! You killed me. You stole my life away!" Salazar cut in then, his once more fuming gaze latching onto the cocksure looking pirate, who simply pursed his lips at his comment. Shrugging.
"Yet it was not me despicable self who sailed me galleon straight into a plight that was most evidently a trap…Survival of the fittest, mate."
"Enough!" Fernán interrupted, stopping his enraged brother from claiming the weapon at the hip of the pirate he was possessing by marching forth to level his own sword at Jack's throat in turn, slicing open his skin a tad as a warning. "You will pay…and suffer the misery befit to mangy curs like you."
"That makes two of us then. Pot, kettle, whichever ye prefer…for it doesn't matter which ye feel more taken with, because they be both black like our hearts, mate. Vile blackguards we are. Dirty scoundrels down to the bone till the bitter end. No better than those wretched sods ye brother used to hold not much care for...And since the gentlemen of dissolute fortune we both are, let us see which of us shall be favored…should military duty come before fraternal one, eh?"
Rage flashed in Fernán's eyes at the sound of that, but against the youth's expectations he didn't act on his fury regardless of the antagonizing smile playing on Jack's lips that provoked him to do so. Hiding his anger behind a mostly collected expression, where others however noticed Jack's words to cause Salazar to take a good look at the very man until his full attention was on his brother, Salazar eyeing at him now thoughtfully. Surprisingly taken with Jack's commentary that unbeknownst to the others but as intended by the pirate left him somewhat conflicted even if grudgingly, but oblivious of this Fernán simply withdrew his blade and ignored Jack. With a calculative look-over given to the block of stone him then returning to it, brandishing his weapon once more to begin to hack at the hard surface with ferocious, impatient strikes. But once he noticed to be not making much of a progress he ordered his men to aid him, the onlookers next following how tree men continued to whack the block in unison from all sides, until after several minutes of slowly carving smaller junks off the stone, abruptly the Trident activated. Once Fernán's previous hit made contact with the block him and his men ending up thrown aside by a sudden burst of power which tore through the stone and caused it to crack, pieces of the shattered block showering over the men and others near enough the altar to get hit by them.
The pirates and captives alike cowered and ducked to the sidelines to avoid getting catapulted by the projectiles, as small as some of them were, but instantly recovering from the surprising eruption Fernán now swiftly approached the block. His eyes but shortly staring at the silvery fork of the Trident which had revealed itself from under the stone, but the hilt still mostly buried within the remains of the block the Spaniard raised his blade again. Starting to jab at the stone after realizing the spear to be still stuck when he failed to pull it out with a few forceful tugs, before digging into the hard corals and sealife that were like a wall around the base of the block. Frustrated bemoans of effort filling the temple until after a while Fernán took hold of the already bared section of the Trident's hilt while plunged his blade into the base of it, with a resounding crackle the man finally succeeding in freeing the weapon once the stone gave in under his vehement hacks. The youth watching in shared sense of dread as he then stepped back and pulled the Trident fully free of the obliterated block of stone, the legendary weapon that was a complete opposite to the one wielded by its owner's son…Forged out of metal that resembled silver, the shaft and the prominent fork more graceful, the overall look of the godly spear much more majestic…And the minute Fernán then turned and raised it above his head to admire it the Trident came alive.
The weapon released another shockwave of power, the captives and pirates alike wavering on their feet once it hit them, while a bad feeling nested into the chests of the prisoners as they now behold the mighty Trident of Poseidon in the hands of the perfidious man who hadn't shied away from anything to get it…And here he was. Wielding the most powerful weapon of the whole treasury…possibly the world. Shivers running down Carmen and Carina's spines as Fernán's menacing laughter then reached their ears, filling the quiet space, whisking away the last remains of hope of them being saved. Only confirmed when the Spaniard then swung the Trident before stepping forth, the ends of the fork now directed strictly at the demigod, who for the shock of the youth then immediately petrified. Henry shooting at first a confused look at Poseidon's son as saw him face his father's weapon in similar dismay, but the lad's bafflement turned into a scare as he behold Fernán to use the power of the Trident to force the demigod down to his knees…Him having not great enough power of his own to resist the command of the mighty weapon and despite of struggle he had no other choice but to obey, the Spaniard breaking into an even more gloatful smile as he forced the demigod to submit to his will. Watching him to attempt to fight him and the invisible shackles the Trident had created to restrain him, adding to the simple exhilaration of it following his command so easily as if it had always been made for him. The weapon's compliance to him frankly surprising the Spaniard a little as he used it to moor the being down to the temple floor, meeting the demigod's scowl with a mere raise of eyebrows until behold him to be utterly overpowered, the demigod collapsing to the floor. Weakened.
"I truly thank you for your help…as will she."
"What is the meaning of this, Fernán?" Salazar asked, puzzled himself as voiced out the question on everyone's lips aside for his brother's crewmen.
"Just preparing to repay what I owe…for like I said I won't see that debt paid with blood of mine", Fernán replied, after eyeing at the demigod for while pulling back the Trident. Such act however not releasing him, as the minute the Trident's power had coursed through him and it had connected with him, he'd known the weapon to follow his every whim…Broken only if the Trident was taken from him, which however wouldn't happen as long as he had Poseidon's power at his disposal to do away with those who'd try…Concerning what he'd previously let slip about his connection with Shansa the captives now coming to see the meaning of his response…or at least Barbossa did, who knew the woman personally as the Spaniard continued. "But a simple favor from a sea witch was not why I procured such a debt."
"What be the ploy ye have devised with Shansa?" Barbossa indeed queried, studying the Spaniard in his true desire to know why he'd let himself be manipulated by the woman. Watching Fernán to tilt his head towards the demigod, smiling.
"In the right hands a heart of a god can offer immense power to its keeper…and even the heart of a demigod will do to satisfy her ambitions."
"What are you doing?!" Carina exclaimed then, even further unnerved by this man and his apparent maschinations that started to border all the while more towards plain madness, and surprised the other prisoners as she then looked at Fernán's crewmembers until beckoned towards the man Salazar had possessed. Bypassing the previous exchange between the Spaniard and Barbossa. "Why do you serve him? This man gave over one of your comrades for his brother to possess without a second thought…Are you truly going to risk him doing the same to you by letting him have the power of the Trident all for himself?"
"What do you have to gain from this?" Henry joined in, as futile as his try to persuade them might've been perhaps but at least it was something, while also glanced about the pirates surrounding them. "If he has the Trident, what are you all left with? After everything he's had you do for him, all the blood he's had you to shed, what reward shall there be for wasting away years of your lives all for the sake of his brother's freedom, who is no one else than el Matador del Mar, notorious pirate hunter? Only one can wield the Trident…So now the Trident found you have no reason to follow him!"
"Is that so? You regard my men pitiable for following me this far with nothing but empty promises given to them to secure their loyalty?" Fernán spoke, locking gazes with Henry as now pointed the Trident at him and the rest of the captives. The slight bend of the weapon then signaling the pirates to shove the captives together on the floor in front of the altar.
"What? Simply because were pirates there's no honor and loyalty that is as great as the coin in our pocket?" Fernán's first-mate said then in amusement as he and the rest of the crew begun to laugh at the lad's previous remarks. The sailor approaching Henry, until angled his head upward with the blade of his own drawn weapon, facing his glare. "It is capitán Calabar who's brought us this far…Beyond the gallows, lawful persecution and tenuous living all the way to this premeditated time we've lived for for years…So worry not, lad. We're pirates. There's no amount of blood or depths of evil we're not prepared to wallow in to get what was promised to us…and as I see it, this very chamber rewards us plenty to ensure that loyalty…As well as that well-earned coin in our pocket."
Henry watched the man to point at the treasures around them, the ensuing even louder laughter of the pirates then indeed signifying both his and Carina's attempts of turning the crewmen against their captain to be for naught. A couple of them then indeed leaving the rest of the crew guarding the prisoners to go over to inspect the contents of the treasury. The riches gathered there although not in as breathtaking in quantity still notably valuable…With all the mythical objects precious enough to satisfy these miscreants' thrist for plunder that now were there free for the taking.
"You see, boy? If you wish to turn my men against me you must come up with something more eloquent", Fernán gloated, conjuring up another gale from his men, where Henry simply sighed. Truthfully clueless of what do do now that the Spaniard had managed to get the Trident…soon enough realizing that there was nothing for them to do any longer. For Fernán had won, claimed the Trident before them and accomplished his goals...Proven by the way the man then turned towards Salazar who was standing behind him, smiling.
"Now, brother…It is time you to be made your old self again."
Salazar took an instinctive step back as Fernán abruptly leveled the Trident at him, for the following wonder of him and the others now watching the brothers to face each other and how the younger sibling exchanged a long look with his elder brother, until placed the tip of the Trident's fork onto the borrowed chest of Salazar. The sea witch's long ago said words welling up in his mind now that the moment had come for his own long time ambition to be fulfilled, indeed as assured by the witch it taking but a fleeting instant for the Trident to go on its way to fight the enchantment of the Triangle as the jewel like stone at the base of the fork glowed. Unlike the weapon of the demigod truly beginning to destroy it instead of simply retracting it for a moment the minute the spear had made contact with the cursed man. Salazar releasing a taken aback breath as the Trident's power coursed into him, driving his spirit out of the possessed pirate's body, while the Trident proceeded to consume the curse from within him and all that was left standing in front of Fernán was his ghostly figure. This time the experience of having a godly power revert him from his cursed form however turning out almost painful once Salazar begun to feel his essence to change, but much more profoundly from before. Once again turning from that vacillating and ethereal to something more earthly bit by bit as the Trident's power continued to draw out the curse that had merged with him and alone sustained his existence, the change beginning as the discovery of the void like emptiness inside him becoming replaced with warmth and actual breath of life, until the flesh that earlier had been enlivened but which had lacked true sense of vitality begun to come alive.
With another breath of this time realization Salazar found life to spark the familiar fire to his soul once again, fire that had once burnt hot in his chest and which decades had been rendered to a mere, faded memory of himself, but which now was regenerated by this unnatural power that he could feel bring back his humanity…Definitively. And so, after enduring this unpleasant transition from a cursed man to a once more living human being Salazar brought a hand to his brother's shoulder to steady himself once he next pulled away the Trident and stepped back to give room to the freed man…To gaze upon Salazar who once again had gained back the noble features of his kin devoid of any signs of the Triangle's curse, the black markings and ghostly sheen of his skin gone which had given room but to the healthy complexion and bright eyes currently filled with wonder…And dismay, until swift understanding took residence of Salazar's mien once his hands had once again ran over his body in curt disbelief and the prisoners and pirates alike watched him to raise his gaze up to his younger brother in indescribable joy once it finally dawned on him to be free at last. Once he could actually feel himself to have been completely cut off from the curse that had claimed him all those years past, in shared sense of elation Fernán now offering him a wide smile. Looking like a whole different person to the the captives who then watched a truly overjoyed expression take over his a moment ago so grim visage until the brothers joined in a delighted gale of laughter before embracing each other. Tightly, that very gesture signifying the bond that had once existed between them, and how dearly the two brothers had yearned for each other…Despite of the seriousness of the situation making that moment in fact a bit moving once the youth bore witness to Salazar's genuine happiness to be reunited with his younger brother again as a mortal man.
"You're free, Armando. At last!" Fernán said, separating from Salazar so that the pair could secure their hands on each other's shoulders, as now also the elder brother gazed at Fernán as if seeing him for the first time. His mind fully cleared of the all-consuming hatred and desire for revenge now that he could feel himself living again, like back in the supposed tomb of Poseidon, only that this time he knew this was true…That his brother had succeeded and finally saved him from his wretched fate, and because of this he felt himself to have been born again as the man he'd once been. Captain Armando Salazar…Decorated officer of the Spanish Royal Navy and commander of the feared Maria Silenciosa…Eldest son of the Salazar family.
"Thank you brother. This is a favor I can never repay…and for which I'm forever grateful for", Salazar answered, momentarily overwhelmed by the thrill of living, but which now was tenfold as he returned Fernán's elated stare. The man in question looking back at him for a moment in silence until tilted a concurring head at him, squeezing Salazar's arm.
"You need not to. For we are blood, and I've spent far too long bringing us to this moment to have you feel indebted to me…But if you insist, let our long last reunion be your repayment."
"Agreed", Salazar said with laughter, grasping Fernán's hand which the man had offered to him for a brotherly squeeze, until he studied the younger sibling for a moment again, but whom didn't anymore quite look all that much younger. "You've fully become a man, Fernán. I remember you as that young and foolish Naval officer, but here you are…much older and a seasoned seafearer."
"Years do not forgive…Where you look exactly the same as the last I saw you, brother."
The captives watched the men to exchange another embrace after an amused smile, however Henry's attention quickly turning down to the Trident as Fernán then shifted his own eyes to it, raising it.
"So…shall we now both have our revenge against those who've scorned us?" he asked, separating from Salazar who gave him a brief confused look until also his eyes then dropped to stare at the Trident in realization once Fernán brought it between them. A shadow of that same vindictive, cursed man making an appearance on his face then as Salazar's eyes traveled over to Jack and narrowed…In clear hatred which caused the pirate to turn uneasy, although he tried not to show it. The Spaniard slowly turning to face him while his brother's previous tempting words caused him then to slowly draw his sword, Fernán casting a gratified smile at him as saw him step down from the altar…In evident desire to finally act on his long harbored grudges, because of this the younger brother pointing at Jack hearteningly. Salazar's now close to fuming eyes drilling into the pirate as he approached, but once Salazar suddenly halted and after a moment of thought cast his eyes down to his sword Fernán sighed. Siding his brother while placed a fleeting hand on his shoulder, speaking.
"Very well…I shall see which of you dies first."
In alarm the youth cringed back at the sight of Fernán leaving the altar himself, his gaze riveted to them and the dangerous, downright evil look in it causing them to turn but fearful, but they couldn't flee once the pirates behind them kept them from running. Carmen gasping as she instantly realized the man to be making his way to her, but before she had time to do more than cast a scared look up to him the fork of the Trident angled under her chin in a flash. Shuddering breath escaping her lips as in relief she found the weapon to have not indeed pierced her neck, but still unaware of the man's exact intentions the gypsy girl swallowing as she then simply stared at the Trident that hovered just above her skin until her eyes finally rose to take in the Spaniard threatening her. Delighted by her obvious dread of him Fernán's lips curving up into a gratified smile once he then gradually moved the fork lower, to stop at her collarbone before moving back to waver below her jaw, until after an excruciating moment the man moved the Trident away. Carmen letting out a new, silent relieved bemoan this time as it passed just under her head, only to move over to Henry, who'd been eyeing at her anxiously the whole while. Now the lad getting confronted by the spiteful Spaniard, who proceeded to harass him in similar manner…Trying to evoke fear in him, and Henry couldn't deny this moment to indeed remind him of the first time he'd met Salazar in the brig of the Monarch…Although now the eyes that looked upon him although belonging to a living man, looking much more demonic…Making him think that perhaps Fernán had always been the real brother living in damnation instead of curse-ridden Salazar.
"I wonder…should I slay him first?" Fernán mused, staring Henry square in the eye until his eyes were cast back to Carmen and the Trident followed suit once he saw her eyes to widen. Him clearly talking to her as he continued to tardily stride along the row of prisoners, the gypsy girl's eyes staying on the lad as long as his dropped and noticed her stare, returning it equally shaken, until Carmen's breath was caught when the weapon's fork once again was stationed under her jaw curtly before it went on its way to point at Carina on her left side. Fernán next leveling the Trident at Barbossa, but before be could continue over to Jack Carmen spoke up, stopping him.
"Stop. Kill me, but let the others go", she told him, bewildering Henry who then gave her a dismayed look until grabbed her arm, to silence her. As if such act would've taken back her words, the gypsy girl only gazing downward until the echo of Fernán's boots woke her attention and she found him standing in front of her again. The Spaniard taking her aback by thrusting the Trident towards her once more, this time far enough to force the gypsy girl to flinch backwards. Leaning on her arms to avoid the sharp prongs as her eyes zeroed onto them for a brief instant, for as long as it took for her to take in Fernán's following response.
"No. For you have been entitled to a slow, painful death after I'm done with the others…who unfortunately have to suffer my wrath to have simply come to share your company, gypsy", Fernán answered, stilling Carmen's blood when his voice gained a poisonous edge in the end, and the man pulled back the Trident quickly. Only for him to startle the gypsy girl by then indeed striding over to Henry and in fright Carmen watched him to grab onto his collar, jerking him to his feet. "I shall not kill him…But he will be the first to pay for the peeve of your existence."
"No!" Carmen shouted, before she even realized it to have jumped to her feet and flung her arms out to grab Fernán, to stop him, however the man simply delivering a painful sideways strike across her face. The others watching how she was flung backwards until she stumbled to the floor, this infuriating Henry who then directed a kick to the man's stomach before tried to punch him. Despite of the pain the knee digging into the soft spot of his torso Fernán however only grimacing until blocked the lad's incoming hit with the Trident, Henry giving the weapon a surprised blink until he found himself forced on his knees due to a powerful blow of the Trident's fork that was cast to his shoulder, until Fernán's boot landed on his chest. Sending him flying backwards next to Carmen, before the man towered over the two. Far more agitated by the young man than he wished to let on as crouched down, this time around grasping Henry by his hair and raised him so that he was looking at him, while the Trident was pointed at him…Threatening to delve into him.
"Keep it going…and I shall change my mind about killing you less painfully."
"Fernán, stop!" Salazar exclaimed out of the blue, his unexpected interruption causing his brother to turn, and now everyone followed in utmost bafflement him to walk over to Fernán. Surprisingly Salazar returning his sword into its scabbard until stretched down to place a deterring hand on the arm of Fernán which was currently gripping to the lad's locks, Henry casting a puzzled look at him which rivalred indeed Fernán's as the brothers then exchanged a stare. Finally Fernán letting go of Henry as stood, inclining a quizzical head at Salazar. The following part of their conversation remaining a mystery to some of the captives as they continued to converse in their mother tongue.
"You're stopping me?" Fernán questioned, addled, until glowered at Henry. "This boy…He came close in stopping me from saving you."
There was understanding in Salazar's eyes, but for the further confusion of Henry and Carmen observing the men closely he then frowned in disagreement, his eyes only briefly leaving Fernán to cast a quick look at both of them.
"There's no need for this brutality. So why would you act so?"
"So…you are still the same", Fernán responded after a moment of silence, sighing, to have studied his elder brother closely to see him to truly disagree with his way of handling these captives that were nothing but mere pests. "Always prepared to point out my faults…Although it was you who was more than eager to bring harm to this boy along with everyone in the company of that pirate you've so come to hate."
"Why are you doing this? You are not like this", Salazar questioned, not replying to his brother previous remark as simply eyed at him addled.
"Am I not? For the last time you saw me I was a totally different man."
"No brother. This is cruel. This isn't you."
"You don't know me."
That previous reply of Fernán's had been delivered somewhat harshly, at least to the ears of the youth, as the Spaniard briefly stared at his brother adamantly until turned his back to him. Walking away from Salazar who simply gazed after him in wonder, however soon enough turning back to pensive again as gauged at him.
"What do you mean?"
"You…As long as I remember you have assumed to know me as well as yourself…When it truth you are but blind to those close to you", Fernán told him, baffling Salazar further until elaborated. His following remark however only stunning the Spaniard instead of helping him understand. "Too blind to see that on the day of your engagement party when I stood alongside you…nothing was the same about me anymore. Neither you or her."
There was then a profound silence as it took a moment for Salazar to bypass his bewilderment to come up with an answer, the elder Spaniard thinking over his younger brother's words until the onlookers saw him to frown this time in utter dismay, until he looked at Fernán in eventual understanding. Within remaining nonplussed none the less.
"Pilar? What does she have to do with this?" he asked, the mentioned name causing the youth to eye at the pair quizzically in turn, where Fernán turned his back to his brother again. Letting out this time a notably more ired breath, the air around the brothers as well as the temple which just a moment before had been warm and merry turning considerably more charged, the previous joy of reunion stealthily morphing into far tenser terms between them, baffling the spectators.
"A lot more than you apparently have come to realize…Even after all these years."
"What is this about Pilar, Fernán?"
"She was mine. And like before you were blind also then to acknowledge that."
"Fernán please. We are talking about you. Not her."
"You took her from me!"
Everyone were shocked by this. Another silence descending as the abrupt revelation of Fernán had taken everyone by surprise, but not until they took in the actual significance of what he'd just unveiled about his and Salazar's past the youth seeing past their wonder and were simply stupefied. Fernán to have spun around to stare at his brother now in evident rancor the resurfaced past quarrel had dug up from its years of oblivion, but there also then was a fleeting speck of sincere regret in his gaze as it riveted to bemused Salazar. Carmen and Henry being able to swear to actually see the man's irises to actually soften, but just a fraction, until they hardened once again. After that long exchanged stare between them Fernán's mien resuming that more grim expression from earlier as he let out a deep sigh, soothing the anger that had flared up inside him at the memory of the only woman he could say to have had feelings for before continued.
"She was mine to wed. But you claimed her to yourself."
A/N:
Well, hmm… things are beginning to heat up a bit between the reunited brothers...
Está bien = It's alright
Cállate! = Shut up